According to the data released today, 80 percent of Division I freshmen and transfer scholarship student-athletes who entered college in 2005 earned a degree, while George Washington student-athletes in that same time period boast a 94 percent rate. The graduation-rate data are based on a six-year cohort prescribed by the U.S. Department of Education. Overall, the Atlantic 10 Conference ranked second amongst all NCAA conferences with a 90 GSR.

"We are firmly committed to ensuring that our student-athletes are given the resources and encouragement to thrive in the classroom," noted Director of Athletics and Recreation Patrick Nero. "These numbers are a credit to our Educational Support Services staff and hard-working student-athletes who recognize and value our priority to see all of our student-athletes through to their graduation from this university having earned a GW diploma."

"Our student-athletes, coaches, administrators and faculty should be very proud of this number, as the fact that 94 percent of our student-athletes in this given period earned a degree from this university is a hallmark of what the George Washington University and our Athletics program stands for," said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Steven Lerman.

The NCAA developed the Division I Graduation Success Rate in response to college and university presidents who wanted graduation data that more accurately reflect the mobility among all college students today, as the Graduation Success Rate accounts for the academic outcomes of student-athletes who transfer from one institution to another.